Your schools lockdown polices?

Question

I found out today that our school is not "required" to inform parents when there has been a lock down. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!? With that being said, I understand that the moment of the lock down there are more important things to worry about. But they should be notified afterwards, just my opinion.

How I found this out is I was listening to the radio of a school that went into lock down and the parents were never told. The only way they knew was their children telling them. They had no clue why the school even was in a lock down. Come to find out, someone threatened to bring a gun to school so they locked the school down. So, a parents called the school after their child told them the school locked down that day and the principle told the mother that they didn't believe the child could get to a gun. The parent wanted to know why the parents were not contacted about this threat made. Obviously, her children were not in school today. I don't blame her one bit!!!

So, when I get to work(I work at my kids school) this morning I was talking to someone I work with and she said she was on "whatever" board and the school isn't "required" to tell the parents. I was shocked. I am so disappointed about this. So, I am wondering if this is a law that they aren't required or if each school decides this. I, personally, believe this is something that should be changed!!!

So, do you know your schools lock down policy?

Answer 1

What kind of school do your children go to that has 'lockdowns'?  I thought we had it bad in the UK but where on earth are schools so bad?

Answer 2

My school would notify after the fact. I'm okay with that. No one can do their job with people getting hysterical and all Rambo (which my husband would pull the Rambo act). I support my school in that. Also they lock all the doors anyways for safety (we live in the boonies) except for the front entrance, including the gyms.  BUT all parents should be notified. Especially if this scares the kids, so that the parent can help them through this

Answer 3

I don't know if it is actual policy, but our schools send home a notice with the kids at the end of the day.  We've only had one once because of a bomb threat.  My problem with out lockdown policy is that the proceedure is to lock the kids INSIDE the school when there is a bomb threat.  Personally I'd rather have them out of there - chaotic or not.

I'd be upset if they didn't let us know too, so I agree with you that the policy should change.

DB, this isn't uncommon in the U.S. if there is a threat - bomb, shooting in the area, etc. After Columbine, etc. I think it makes sense.

Answer 4

If you're a teacher, I'm appalled you want parents to be notified if there's a lockdown. Do you know WHY they created that? Because parents would keep phoning the school, causing chaos, and because some idiots decided they were going to "rescue" their kids from school, and got killed.

EDIT: That's why you TALK to your kids... frankly, if your kids don't tell you they had a lockdown, you need to get them to.

Answer 5

My parents work for emergency services do they would know right away but in Canada due to FOIP issues they have 24hr to notify parents of these situations. Parents have a right to know when their children are in an emergency situation. As their emergency contact they much contact you in an emergency.